Toronto MMA Examiner
Mike Johnston
Mike JohnstonWith the rise in popularity of mixed martial arts, there is sure to be a plethora of professional fighters coming out of Ontario in the coming years. This weekend though, two established Ontario fighters that have already had a wealth of success in MMA will be in action at World Extreme Cagefighting’s inaugural event north of the border.
Mark “The Machine” Hominick and Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki are friends, training partners, business partners, and Team Tompkins teammates, and both will be competing on the main card at WEC 49 on June 20 in Edmonton.
Hominick says that their tight bond should help them come fight night. “We’ve been in the same group for ten years. You see a lot of guys in the sport that kind of gym jump, where every fight you see a different guy in their corner and I don’t think that’s a good, stable environment,” Hominick toldCanadianProFighter.com. “You need people who are around that you trust. You know, you can always pick up skills from everybody because that’s what the sport is all about, but you still need that core group that you’re safe and comfortable with and I think that’s what Team Tompkins has.”
The Thamesford, Ontario native will take on fellow Canadian featherweight Yves Jabouin in what should be a blistering standup war. This fight has been eight years in the making and puts the two top featherweights in the country against one another. Hominick says that he is ready for the challenge.
“Training has been going well. You know, you always say ‘oh I’m in the best shape of my life,’ but I think this camp I’m mentally the strongest I’ve ever been,” said Hominick. “Physically, I’m always confident in where I’m at, but I think mentally I’m very strong right now. I’m ready to win this and then move on to what’s next.“
Horodecki -who at just 22 is already one of the top lightweights in Canada- was scheduled to fight Ed Ratcliff, however Ratcliff was forced to withdraw from the fight due to injury. Instead, “The Polish Hammer” will take on undefeated striker Danny Downes on the main card. Hominick believes fighting on the same card as his teammate is mutually beneficial and has brought the best out of both himself and Horodecki.
“It’s great because we always help each other out for training camps, like we’ll come in on sparring days and give each other rounds, but a lot of times [we’ll] do one round and take a round off because [we’re] not in top shape,” said Hominick. “But, with Chris, he’s in top shape just like me, so we’re peaking at the same time so we can kind of feed off each other, to push each other hard every day. And, mentally be there for each other because we each know about the weight cut and the stresses that go on in camp, but we’re going through it together.”
Hominick and Horodecki co-own the Adrenaline Training Centre in London, Ontario with UFC star and teammate Sam Stout. The two also train out of Xtreme Couture Toronto part time.
WEC 49 airs live at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 20 and is available to watch in Canada on The Score.
Mark “The Machine” Hominick and Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki are friends, training partners, business partners, and Team Tompkins teammates, and both will be competing on the main card at WEC 49 on June 20 in Edmonton.
Hominick says that their tight bond should help them come fight night. “We’ve been in the same group for ten years. You see a lot of guys in the sport that kind of gym jump, where every fight you see a different guy in their corner and I don’t think that’s a good, stable environment,” Hominick toldCanadianProFighter.com. “You need people who are around that you trust. You know, you can always pick up skills from everybody because that’s what the sport is all about, but you still need that core group that you’re safe and comfortable with and I think that’s what Team Tompkins has.”
The Thamesford, Ontario native will take on fellow Canadian featherweight Yves Jabouin in what should be a blistering standup war. This fight has been eight years in the making and puts the two top featherweights in the country against one another. Hominick says that he is ready for the challenge.
“Training has been going well. You know, you always say ‘oh I’m in the best shape of my life,’ but I think this camp I’m mentally the strongest I’ve ever been,” said Hominick. “Physically, I’m always confident in where I’m at, but I think mentally I’m very strong right now. I’m ready to win this and then move on to what’s next.“
Horodecki -who at just 22 is already one of the top lightweights in Canada- was scheduled to fight Ed Ratcliff, however Ratcliff was forced to withdraw from the fight due to injury. Instead, “The Polish Hammer” will take on undefeated striker Danny Downes on the main card. Hominick believes fighting on the same card as his teammate is mutually beneficial and has brought the best out of both himself and Horodecki.
“It’s great because we always help each other out for training camps, like we’ll come in on sparring days and give each other rounds, but a lot of times [we’ll] do one round and take a round off because [we’re] not in top shape,” said Hominick. “But, with Chris, he’s in top shape just like me, so we’re peaking at the same time so we can kind of feed off each other, to push each other hard every day. And, mentally be there for each other because we each know about the weight cut and the stresses that go on in camp, but we’re going through it together.”
Hominick and Horodecki co-own the Adrenaline Training Centre in London, Ontario with UFC star and teammate Sam Stout. The two also train out of Xtreme Couture Toronto part time.
WEC 49 airs live at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 20 and is available to watch in Canada on The Score.
ATC Represent!
ReplyDelete